Planting unit

Abstract

A planting unit for depositing fertilizer and seed in a single pass, double shoot manner includes a rotating disc that cuts a furrow in a planting surface and a trailing seed boot, having a cutting edge, that cuts a vertically and horizontally offset trench in the furrow to form a seed bed in the planting surface. The disc has a mounting frame for mounting the disc to a linkage assembly that is, in turn, coupled to a toolbar mount. The seed boot is also attached to the mounting frame. This common attachment provides a relatively short and compact device without sacrificing fertilizer and seed stratification.

We claim: 
     
       1. A planting unit for use with a planting implement having a frame and configured to travel along a line of travel, comprising:
 a furrowing device mountable to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow into a planting surface; the furrow device having a trailing edge; 
 a fertilizer tube associated with the furrowing device and configured to deposit fertilizer into a fertilizer trench formed in the furrow; 
 a seed boot mounted to the frame rearward of the fertilizer tube and the furrowing device, the seed boot including a hollow tubular member configured to pass seed, which can be deposited onto the planting surface, and a stationary cutting edge configured to cut a ledge into the furrow onto which seed is deposited; wherein seed boot has a leading edge that is rearward of the trailing edge of the furrowing device; and 
 a clamp mounting the seed boot to the frame. 
 
     
     
       2. The planting unit of  claim 1  wherein the frame includes a trailing arm and the clamp engages the trailing arm so as to support the seed boot from the trailing arm. 
     
     
       3. The planting unit of  claim 2  wherein the hollow tubular member includes an outlet through which the seed passes to exit the seed boot and wherein a tab is arranged forward of the outlet of the hollow tubular member. 
     
     
       4. The planting unit of  claim 1  wherein the seed boot includes a tab that is connected to and extends away from the hollow tubular member. 
     
     
       5. The planting unit of  claim 4  wherein the fertilizer tube includes an outlet through which the fertilizer passes to exit the fertilizer tube and wherein the outlet of the hollow tubular member is offset laterally from the outlet of the fertilizer tube. 
     
     
       6. The planting unit of  claim 5  wherein the outlet of the hollow tubular member is offset vertically from the outlet of the fertilizer tube. 
     
     
       7. The planting unit of  claim 1  wherein the hollow tubular member includes an outlet through which the seed passes to exit the seed boot and wherein the outlet of the hollow tubular member faces away from the furrowing device. 
     
     
       8. The planting unit of  claim 7  wherein the outlet of the hollow tubular member is laterally offset from the furrowing device.